Press Report

Estonia is preparing amendments to its Citizenship Law that would bring it into compliance with OSCE High Commissioner van der Stoel's recommendations. The draft amendments provide for a simplified naturalization procedure for foreigners' children born in Estonia. The amendments also provide for free pre-testing consultations of applicants for citizenship and for simplified language tests for elderly persons. Diena

Head of the State Human Rights Office Olafs Bruvers visited penitentiaries in Daugavpils. In a brief interview for "SM" he said that living conditions in those were "acceptable". Still, the main problem is the lack of funds required to isolate inmates suffering from TB and to provide them with suitable medical care. While touching upon the recent attempt to amend the Citizenship Law, Mr. Bruvers expressed hope that the Law will be finally amended. He is surprised by non-citizens being so indifferent to the problem. "Why don't they stand for their rights?"- asked Mr. Bruvers and added that "his Western colleagues often asked the same question." SM 

German Minister of Foreign Affairs Kinkel during his visit to Latvia stressed that the Baltic states should maintain friendly and neighborly relations with Russia. In a brief interview for "SM" he pointed to the importance of resolving the problem of national minorities and said that he had raised the issue during the meetings "with his Latvian colleagues." SM